Faringdon ‘grows’ on Pamela and Ray!
For Dr Pamela Stagg-Jones and her husband, Ray Jones, it was ‘love at first sight’ when they viewed the houses at Beechcroft’s Fern Hill Place but, having set their hearts on living in somewhere like Marlborough or Cirencester, they were reluctant to move to Faringdon! Now, just three months later, they have grown to love the town which offers everything they need as well as being a friendly place to live!
Pamela and Ray lived in Texas and Florida for over 20 years and moved to Penarth, near Cardiff before discovering Fern Hill Place.
Tucked away in a landscaped setting just off Coxwell Road, Fern Hill Place is located in one of Faringdon’s most sought-after residential areas and falls within the catchment area of the popular Faringdon Community College. Each of the 10 new homes at Fern Hill Place has been carefully designed, built and finished and features the high quality specification that has helped Beechcroft gain an enviable reputation over the last two decades.
“We were hoping to buy a new, easy-to-maintain home in Cirencester or perhaps in Marlborough, where our daughter lives. Faringdon wasn’t even on our list but friends, who were also looking to move, recommended we take a look at Fern Hill Place which they really liked,” comments Pamela. “I’d visited a Beechcroft development in Winchester some time before and because I liked the style of the new homes and the quality of build and finish, we decided to visit Fern Hill Place. From the start, my husband thought the Beechcroft development was perfect for us but I wasn’t too keen on Faringdon itself so we continued our search.”
Having failed to find anything that matched up to Fern Hill Place, the Joneses decided that Fern Hill Place could indeed be a good location. They agreed that the location, equidistant between three sets of grandchildren and close to Wrag Barn Golf Club in Highworth, where Ray is a keen player, was ideal – and bought one of the new homes.
“Beechcroft’s architect was certainly inspired when he designed the 10 new homes here. Each has a garage and some homes also have a workshop. Our flat in Penarth was large but didn’t have a garage. It’s also good to have a security gate,” adds Pamela. “One of the best things about living here, though, is the sense of community. We go out to dinner with our neighbours on occasion and we had a wonderful barbecue in a neighbour’s garden in the summer. It’s really nice that the community is mixed – three of the couples are active and retired like us and there are two young families; it’s lovely to have children around.”
Much to Pamela’s surprise, Faringdon has actually ‘grown’ on them! In fact, she says that every time they visit the town it becomes more appealing.
“I can honestly say that we can get everything we want in the town – whether it’s for us, for the grandchildren or even for dinner parties. We don’t have to go to Swindon for anything. The town’s supermarket has local produce, potatoes straight from the ground as well as all the usual stuff. There’s also a very good delicatessen.”
“The Faringdon Coffee Shop is a delight. The people who work there are wonderful; always smiling, always helpful. You’re able to choose your own blend of coffee – and it’s beautiful – and there are delicious home-made cakes and pastries. There’s a post office and a Really Useful Shop – that is just that!”
“We had the biggest surprise when we needed some furniture. We’d been to Reading, Oxford and Swindon and did far better in Faringdon. We went to a store called Majo in Faringdon. The young man there knows all about furniture and has some beautiful pieces in his store – which extends to three levels. He really went out of his way to help us and even came and fitted some items into our new home for us.”
Currently, the final new home is on sale at Fern Hill Place so anyone wanting to join this lovely community will need to move swiftly. This last remaining property is the former show house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a cloakroom arranged over three storeys.
For information on this attractive home, which comes complete with carpets, curtains, blinds and light fittings at just xxxx, please contact the Beechcroft sales team on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm on 01367 244105. Outside these hours, please contact selling agents, Greens, on 01235 763562. Information on all Beechcroft developments is available on www.beechcroft.co.uk.
- Ends -
Photograph: Dr Pamela Stagg-Jones
Media information: Sheila Frampton
Craven Group
01428 751755/07789 275868
sheila.frampton@craven-property.com
'Open Market Homebuy' scheme Government assistance is back for First Time Buyers If you can’t afford to buy a home, the ‘Open Market HomeBuy’ scheme can help you to get a loan alongside a regular mortgage. Find out if you are eligible and how it works.
Open Market HomeBuy - who can apply?
You need to be sure that you meet the eligibility criteria before you can buy a home with help from the Open Market HomeBuy scheme. The scheme is run in England by ‘HomeBuy agents’, who can help you through the application process. HomeBuy agents are appointed housing associations - non-profit organisations that manage housing for people having difficulty buying a home.
Open Market HomeBuy is open to households earning less than £60,000 a year who would otherwise be unable to buy a home.
You may be eligible if you are either a:
* first time buyer
* previous home owner who can't now afford to buy without help (perhaps because you have broken up with your partner)
* housing association or council tenant
* ‘key worker’ (a key public sector worker, like a nurse or teacher)
To find out more click here
At Fern Hill Place, Faringdon, the sales team has had a flurry of visitors from all over the Home Counties, looking for a new home in an excellent commuting location, as Sales and Marketing Director, Angela South explains:
“What we’ve been finding at Fern Hill Place is that people are now tired of renting and are ready to buy. We believe that many people who wouldn’t normally have rented have been persuaded to do so because of the economic climate and now they’re finding that the money they invested in the bank isn’t earning much interest, property prices are more affordable and, of course, it’s always preferable to own your own home.”
Fern Hill Place is the ideal location for anyone – singles, couples or families – looking for a new home in an excellent location as selling agent, Tim Green, of Green & Co in Wantage explains:
“This gated community of just ten four-bedroom private homes is tucked away just off Coxwell Road, which in addition to being one of Faringdon’s most sought-after residential areas, falls within the catchment area of Faringdon Community College, one of only two schools in the whole of Oxfordshire to be awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating by OFSTED.”
“The new homes, which are ready to move into now, have a high specification, private gardens, garages and parking. Unlike many new developments, Fern Hill Place is a select and contained development in a popular and established residential location within the town. With both the town centre and open countryside only a walk away too, these should all be key points for home buyers."
"In any market, location should be the highest priority and with so many new homes are being constructed on brown field sites with mixed use it is rare to find these smaller exclusive projects. This could well explain the reasons for the surge in interest that we are experiencing."
“Faringdon is also an excellent place to live because it provides easy road access to Oxford and Swindon, the A34 and M4 and, of course, there’s a mainline railway station at Oxford which provides a swift service to London Paddington,” adds Tim.
Anyone interested in living at Fern Hill Place, where prices currently range from £299,950 for one of the courtyard properties, will need to act swiftly. The sales office and show home is open each Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and can be contacted on 01367 244105. Out of office hours, please call selling agents, Green & Co, on 01235 763562.
Information on all Beechcroft developments is available on www.beechcroft.co.uk.
Photograph: Beechcroft’s Fern Hill Place development in Faringdon, Oxon
Media information: Sheila Frampton
Craven Property Services
Sheila.frampton@craven-property.com
07789 275868/01428 751755
Stamp Duty Land Tax Rates STAMP DUTY LAND TAX RATES
New threshholds following Budget 3 September 2008 which are valid until 2 September 2009.
Residential property - purchase price
Rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax
up to £175,000 (until 2 September 2009 inclusive) 0%
£175,001 - £250,000 1%
£250,001 - £500,000 3%
£500,001 or more 4%
Stamp Duty Land Tax when you buy property
New thresholds introduced from 3 September 2008 mean that if you buy property and the purchase price is £175,000 or less you don't pay any Stamp Duty Land Tax at all.
If it's more than £175,000, you pay between one and four per cent of the whole purchase price. The £175,000 threshold (up from £125,000) will remain in place up to and including 2 September 2009.
source: http://www.direct.gov.uk/
HIP Regulations update Minister for Housing ends the Transitional Arrangements for HIP Regulations Home information packs have proved themselves to be contraversial at best and considered ill-advised and rushed through by many. However the current government shows no sign of abandoning the scheme and with every alteration there is a chance that their effectiveness could improve.
On the 8 December 2008 the Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett, confirmed the ending of the current transitional arrangements for the HIP Regulations.
This means:
From the 6 April 2009 the following minimum documents must be available before First Day Marketing of a property can legally take place:
Index of the documents contained in the HIP
Energy Performance Certificate or Predicted Energy Assessment
Sale Statement
Land Registry Title documents and Plan
After the 6 April 2009 mean it will no longer be enough just to have ordered a HIP in order to begin marketing.
Where there is a delay in obtaining the EPC or PEA marketing can begin on Day 15 after it was requested.
A further requirement from the 6 April is that the HIP must contain a NEW document – the Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) within 28 days of First Day Marketing.
The PIQ contains questions for the vendor to answer from their own knowledge and experience of living in the property, for example: When was the property purchased? What Council Tax Band is the property in?
The changes to the scheme will affect those people considering the sale of their home in the Spring of 2009. Anyone going to the market after the 6th April will be delayed by having to comply with the new regulations. It would be advisable to take advice well in advance of the time that you wish to commence marketing to save any unnecessary/damaging delays. We will be able to provide you advise you on all aspects of your move.
Contact us now on post@greenand.co.uk
Lewis Gallagher has been announced as the overall winner of the Green & Co. Drawing Competition launched at the 2008 Didcot Street Fair. Lewis drew an impressive version of James Bond in his Aston Martin as seen here and was chosen by the judges from a very good quality entry. The entrants were not restricted to the James Bond theme but many of the pictures were fully in the theme of the Street fair. After a tough decision Lewis' picture was announced as the winner. The prize awarded to the winner is to attend a practice session for the Green & Co rally team and enjoy the passenger ride of a lifetime. Three runners up also received prizes for their efforts.
Part of the work that Green & Co undertake is providing new tenants and homeowners with useful information packs containing advice on energy conservation and recycling issues. This forms part of an expanding scheme within the company towards environmental responsibility. Partner Tim Green said 'this is really the start of a much bigger programme within the firm on a very important issue in the world today. We are very pleased to have been recognised with the nomination for this award.'
Office Manager Paul Jarvis launched a drawing competition for 7-17 year olds for the evening and headed the team handing out FREE entry forms. Goodie bags with gas balloons were handed out to all the passing children and mulled wine and soft refreshments provided for everyone. The entry forms for the Drawing Competition need to be back in the office in good time for the judging which will take place on Monday the 16th December.
The two lucky winners will win a ride in the Team Green Rally car sponsored by the firm.
July News, Housing Market Update House prices 'dropped 1% in June'
House prices in England and Wales fell by 1% in June from May, according to figures from the Land Registry. That drop meant that the annual rate of increase was 0.1%, the tenth consecutive month that the annual rate of growth has slowed.
The average price of a home in England and Wales slipped to £180,781.
Despite the current slowdown, which has been caused by tougher lending demands, a social housing group predicted that house prices would rise 25% by 2013.
Rising or falling?
According to the National Housing Federation (NHF), average house prices in England were set to rise by 25% over the next five years because demand for housing would outstrip the construction of new homes.
"People are living longer, they're delaying getting married and they're more likely to get divorced - meaning that we now have more households than ever"
David Orr National Housing Federation
The NHF said that house prices in England would fall by 4.4% in 2008, and be 2.1% lower in 2009.
However, it predicts that prices will have recovered by 2010 and would rise by more than 9% in 2012 and 2013.
While there are questions about how accurate five-year forecasts can be, there is a general concern that new homes being built will not meet demand.
"As soon as the economic outlook improves, house prices will resume their previous upward trajectory," said the Federation's chief executive David Orr.
Market view
In the meantime, analysts are trying to work out how fast and how far house prices will drop.
The Land Registry figures are based on prices at the completion of sales and therefore lag behind some of the other surveys which rely on mortgage data.
The figures show that during June the house price fall was particularly marked in London, which saw prices drop by 2.5% from May.
It also found that sales volumes remained much lower across England and Wales than in the same month a year ago.
The North East of England was the only area to see a monthly rise in prices, up 4.1% in June and 3.1% for the year. That made the average house price in the region worth £133,508.
The region with the biggest year-on-year fall was the West Midlands (down 2.3%), with the average cost of a home in the region at £149,375.
The most up-to-date figures from the Registry on the number of homes changing hands show that far fewer people are moving than last year.
The credit crunch has made it more difficult, especially for first-time buyers, to get a good mortgage deal.
The figures show that semi-detached homes in England and Wales fell in price by 0.6% in June 2008 compared with a year earlier.
Detached homes went up in price over the same period by 0.8%.
SOURCE: BBC News 28 July 2008
Mortgage lenders have finally started to cut their rates - bringing welcome relief for homeowners.
Nationwide will tomorrow deliver it's second reduction in a week, cutting annual payments for an average borrower by a total of £550. Their move follows six months of gloom in the mortgage market in which dates have reached their highest levels for a decade.
Relief: Mortgage lender Nationwide has announced it will cut up to 0.46 percentage points off it's rates on Friday. Experts said yesterday they hoped the worst of the mortgage drought was over and that June would go down as the market's nadir.
Tomorrow (18 July 2008) the Nationwide will cut up to 0.46 percentage points off it's mortgage rates. Other lenders, such as Abbey, Woolwich and even the nationalised Northern Rock, have cut rates over the last seven days. For homeowners, particularly those who need to re-mortgage in the next few months, this will come as an enormous relief. Thousands have been worrying that they will not be able to afford their new mortgage because of sky-high rates. On July 8, the rate for a two-year fixed mortgage for up to 75 percent of a property's value stood at 6.65 percent with the Nationwide. The rate will drop to 6.18 percent, saving £45 a month, or £540 a year, from the costs of repaying an average £155,000 loan.
SOURCE: MailOnLine 17 July 2008
Following a recent Auction of Promises held at the School the pledges made by so many local businesses have now been turned into the latest ‘state of the art’ facilities at Shellingford School.
“The support that has been shown by so many businesses and private individuals close to the school has been overwhelming. Combined with the unstinting efforts made by the ‘Friends of Shellingford School’ (FOSS) that support from the local community has been converted into somewhere approaching £7000 of much needed funds for the school. The facilities in which we have now been fortunate enough to be able to invest provide the pupils with even greater opportunities to make their time special here at Shellingford.”
Pictured above are Heidi Crook (Chair of FOSS), Louis Clark (School IT consultant), Tim Green of Green & Co. Estate agents who donated ‘Sell your house for FREE’ and pupils Daniel Crook and Stephen Clark.
Shellingford C.E. (Aided) Primary School can be contacted on 01367 710301 or visiting www.shellingford.oxon.sch.uk.
May News Home Information Packs - the Oppositions view - Last week Grant Schapps MP, Shadow Housing Minister, hosted a seminar intended to make clear the oppositions stance on Home Information Packs. It was made clear that the suggestions listed below would be looked at in depth before any further action was taken. However it was also made clear that the Conservaties were commited to improving matters:
The process should be de-mystified
Buyers should have some kind of funding certificate in place before they make an offer
A condition summary should be included
Estate agents should be better trained and regulated
There should be more involvement in the discussions by individual lenders and the CML
E conveyancing should be progressed
Some kind of commitment contract or bond should be entered into
Problems with searches should be resolved
Freeholders and managing agents should be made to be more helpful and responsive
Sellers should instruct solicitor/conveyancers when the property is first marketed
Solicitors/conveyancers should use email and telephones more often
Solicitors/conveyancers should work on a 'no move, no fee' basis
Problems with restrictive covenants should be addressed
Chancel repair liability should be abolished
(This is an interpretation taken from a delegate present at the seminar and cannot be construed as a direct statement form the opposition. The content of this report is intended for information interest only and not for any other purpose.)
May News Latest Home Information Pack News 8 May 2008
On the 8 May 2008 the Minister confirmed the following current provisions had all been extended to 31 December 2008:
A leasehold HIP must include a copy of the lease, but all other leasehold information is voluntary
First Day Marketing Rule – provided a HIP has been commissioned and paid for, then marketing can begin ahead of HIP documents and searches being received
The Minister made no announcement regarding a ‘drop dead date’ (when all properties on the market would need a HIP even if they beat the original deadline).
To ensure consumers are better able to fully realise the benefit of HIPs, the Minister did announce that she would be working with the property industry to:
Enhance the content of HIPs to include more consumer friendly information on access, boundaries, changes made to the property and fixtures and fittings
Develop an ‘exchange ready pack’ containing both consumer facing and legal information, including a draft contract, to enable swifter exchange and completion
Promote higher and consistent standards of practice from property professionals to ensure the HIP is prepared early in the process and is shown to all prospective buyers.
The Minister stated “I believe these measures will provide greater certainty and stability to consumers and industry about the operation of HIPs.”
Click on the following link to view a full copy of the Minister’s statement: http://www.communities.gov.uk/statements/corporate/hips
May News Green & Co helping the first time market The property market continues to make it even more difficult for first time buyers to get on the ladder. So Green & Co are trying to demonstrate every method that potential buyers can use to be able to do so. They now have a range of property that include the following opportunities:
If you have little or no deposit - move in for £99!
Buy only a percentage of the property - shared ownership.
Advice on key worker schemes from Independent Mortgage consultants.
Assistance available for stamp duty, legal costs, mortgage fees or possibly even internal finishes including carpets.
The company intends to hold First time buyer workshops later in the year specifically designed to help intersted parties at this difficult end of the market. All relevant advisers would be on hand to leave attendees fully informed. Contact our Sales team on 01235 763562 for further details.
Green & Company are proud to annouce the pre-launch release of this totally unique town centre development of new luxury one and two bedroom apartments.
Pre-launch release of this totally unique town centre development of new luxury one and two bedroom apartments. Prices starting at only £149,000 and many apartments are offered with allocated parking on site. A special feature of this development is to have all the amenities of the town right on hand minimalising the need to use the car. The apartments are in an almost traffic free location and many enjoy balconies overlooking the town. The latest fitments and quality of finish are on what Bryant have grown their reputation and the first apartments will very soon be ready for viewing.
Colour Brochures and full specifications are now available from both Wantage and Didcot offices. Click here for further details or call us on 01235 763562.
January News The latest Home Information Pack plans - January 2008 Despite massive opposition the Home Information Pack in its current
guise has now been introduced for the marketing of all residential
properties. Any property that is advertised for sale now requires one.
At present the marketing of the property can begin as soon as the HIP is
ordered but the Government intends to end this concession on 31st May
2008. Beyond this date parties responsible for selling property will be
required to ensure that the pack is physically complete before marketing
commences. This would cause unnecessary delays for sellers wanting to
commence marketing straight away and there is no sustainable argument in
favour of ending what is presently known as 'First Day Marketing.'
There is now an approved petition on the No 10 Downing Street website
calling for First Day Marketing to be allowed to continue. If you wish
to find out more you can visit:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/homeselling
January News Commercial properties to require Energy Performance Certificates Following on from the Government's introduction of Home Information Packs and energy efficiency ratings for residential dwellings "non-domestic buildings", i.e. shops, offices and storage buildings, with a floor area over 10,000 sq. metres will require an Energy Performance Certificate to be provided by an accredited surveyor prior to offering for sale or let from 6th April next. Smaller buildings down to 2,500 sq. metres will be included from 1st July onwards and then buildings down to 50 sq. metres from 1st October. There will be few exclusions from the requirement but "low energy demand" buildings like farm outbuildings will not be affected.
As with the HIP saga, it may well be the case that insufficent qualified commercial energy surveyors are available from 6th April as accreditation courses, usually lasting 4 or 5 days and costing up to £3,000 a time are only just being offered. Existing domestic energy surveyors will not be able to carry out the assessments without further training and examination.
Commercial and Development agency Partner Matthew Green says "this move is a result of the EU's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive but the Government seems to have been a bit slow on the uptake. It remains to be seen whether the April deadline can be met and the cost of the surveys is not yet apparent. As with the residential market, commercial property owners will need to think ahead to ensure their property can be offered for sale or let at the time they want."
For further information call Commercial Dept on 01235 763561
January News Lettings Market Report January 2008 Our Residential Lettings department in both Wantage and Didcot can report a record 2007. In some parts of the UK there has been widely reported pessimism about the lettings market, but in our area there has been continued and growing confidence.
The increase in our lettings business means that we now have a portfolio of over 275 properties and we have arranged over 130 new lets and almost as many renewals in the past year.
We are still experiencing high demand for rental properties and this demand has begun early in the new year. As a result, we are constantly seeking more properties to let and our dedicated lettings team can confidently offer new and existing landlords a first class, competitive service. We strive to exceed the standards expected of us and aim to provide exacting levels of customer service to both landlords and tenants.
If you are considering letting your property in 2008 or are a potential tenant, please do contact us. We are happy to advise on all aspects of Residential Lettings and we do our very best to match your properties to quality tenants.